Q&A With CWSE Director Kip Childress

Kip Childress was tabbed to be the Camping World Series East Director last winter. He was essentially handed the keys to NASCAR's biggest developmental series. He knew when he was handed those keys, he had some big shoes to fill. The CWSE has had some very popular and respected series directors over its 25+ year history. If the series had a Hall of Fame, the late Bunk Sampson would be inducted as an official after his years of service as series director. Most recently, popular series director Lee Roy led the series as it transitioned from a regional northeast touring series, to the east coast developmental series it is recognized as today.

A third-generation NASCAR official, Childress has been associated with motorsports throughout his life. His grandfather, Gaither, served as Chief Steward at various tracks, including Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C. His father, Lance, served in a number of capacities for NASCAR for two decades. A resident of Lexington, N.C., Childress got his start with NASCAR as a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series official at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C. Childress, 38, also officiated at Tri-County Motor Speedway in Hudson, N.C., before joining the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series toward the end of its inaugural season in 1995.

Kip was kind enough to participate in our Q&A for neracing/Busch Sport Scene. Here are our ten questions with Kip's answers:

1. Can you recap your first impressions on the Camping World Series from your view as the series director after the first few races?

KC: While this should be an easy question to answer it is really quite difficult. First impression...hmmm. Coming into the Camping World Series, East this year I must say that I was extremely excited...like I had just been given an old gold pocket watch that had been handed down from generation to generation. Have you ever seen the look on a kid's face when his dad has given him something his dad had given him? I know I had that same look on my face.
My first few days at the R&D Center in Concord, I was told that I was entering a series that had a great group of officials as well as a great group of competitors. So expectations were high heading into our first race at Greenville. From that first race to our most recent one at Thompson...those expectations have certainly been fulfilled.

2. The series has changed dramatically over its 20+ year history. Many fans of the series have come and gone during that time. What would you tell a former fan of the series to convince him/her to follow the series again, or at least attend a CWSE race again this season?

KC: I would tell them that I know that the series has changed over the past several years...but all racing has changed. The NASCAR Camping World Series, East is still the same series that showcased great drivers such as Jamie Aube, Andy Santerre, Dale Shaw, Mike Olsen and our current Champion Matt Kobyluck...only now those drivers are helping mold the next group of great drivers. I guess that you could say we're growing up.

3. Kyle Busch raced in the series East/West combination event at Iowa Speedway. What impact does a Sprint Cup stars presence have in a CWSE event?

KC: When a Kyle Busch, or a Joey Logano or a Ron Hornaday or a Kevin Harvick comes to race with us in the Camping World Series, in my opinion, it does a few things. First, it gives those guys a chance to come back and race in a grass roots series and gives them the chance to re-visit where they've come from. It also gives our regulars a chance to race some of the guys who have made it to the next level...to compare their skills with those guys and maybe even motivate those who are wanting to graduate to the next level. Finally I think it helps our series gain some national publicity that typically follows one of those drivers.

4. Would you like to see more combination style events and more
participation from Nationwide or Sprint Cup drivers?

KC: More combination events as in East and West combinations? I think that we are where we need to be as far as combo events go...logistically speaking. The combination event at Iowa is such a great event and allows our teams to meet in the Midwest to not only compete against one another, but it also allows the race fans up there to see the best the east and the west have to offer. The Toyota All-Star Showdown in January gives our teams the same opportunity to compete...but without the stress of being caught up in a points battle...and they get the chance to do it on Live TV on SPEED.

5. Have you had any contact or requests for information from either potential sponsors or drivers who are considering racing in the CWSE, and if so, what are some of the more commons questions they have?

KC: Just this month I have had calls from four or five teams that are planning to race with us in 2010. And just a couple of weeks ago, we saw Corey LaJoie and Derek Ramstrom make their debuts in the East Series at Thompson. Both of those drivers are coming from the Late Model ranks. I think that we will see more and more of those young Late Model drivers and teams look to the Camping World Series to bridge the gap between where they are now and the Camping World Truck Series, the Nationwide Series and ultimately the Sprint Cup Series. Their questions are all over the place...from how much does it cost to race to where are we racing next season to what are the rules looking like for 2010.

6. What would you tell a potential race team that asked you what a ball park figure cost was to race one race at a typical short track in the CWSE?

KC: I'd tell them that there is not a ball park figure because we have so many different teams with so many different budgets that are extremely competitive in our series. Just a quick look at our owners point standing will prove that.

7. Has there been any efforts by you or NASCAR to attract more developmental CWSE teams from the more prominent NASCAR teams?

KC: We are not going to any extra effort to attract teams from the national tour garages...but we aren't discouraging it either. I want those teams that are grooming their young drivers to make it to the national level to know that the Camping World Series is a great place to train them. But as much as I want their teams with us, I also want that father and son combination looking to make it to the next level to race with us too. Just last week, I had the opportunity to visit one of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tracks and met a lot of great drivers that are looking to make it to the next level. I want our series to be that next level for them.

8. Are there any thoughts or plans on expanding the CWSE schedule in the future, if so, what type of track or region would you most like to add?

KC: We are already in the planning stages for 2010 and one of the topics is definitely "where do we want to go?" We would like to be in that low to mid teen range when it comes to the length of the schedule. As far as types of tracks and regions...ovals of a mile in length and under and road courses in the same geographic area we are currently racing in. Just a quick look at a map in a speedway directory and you know that the possibilities are endless.

9. Car counts seem to be declining in many national/regional touring series, what do you feel is the primary reason for this, and what do you think can be done to reverse the decline in the CWSE?

KC: Well, just turn on your favorite news network and you can see and hear about what is causing the decline. The economy has definitely affected the racing world and our series has been hit by it too...but maybe not as hard as the casual observer might think. Last season, the Camping World Series, East had 20 full-time teams and this year so far we have 17. The biggest difference we have seen this year is the amount of teams who attempt one or two races which leads me to believe that our core is still strong. As the economy improves, I think that racing, not just the Camping World Series, but all of racing will recover. With that in mind, however, we are constantly reviewing ways to help the teams contain or even reduce their costs and will continue to do so as we move into 2010.

10. What are the biggest changes you have tried to institute in the CWSE
this season?

KC: My first season...to be honest I haven't changed a thing. I'll go back to the first question where I said that when I started I was told that I had a great group of officials as well as a great group of competitors. The first thing that I told them is that I didn't come in to re-invent the wheel. Have we polished a few things or tweaked a few things? Sure we have...but we haven't changed anything just for the sake of change. As we move into 2010, I foresee much of the same thing. We'll just keep polishing that old pocket watch.